Identifying Lab Needs

As health systems integrate to a value-based approach, laboratory testing can play an important role.

An efficiently-run laboratory care management program in each of your facilities can help improve patient outcomes by:

Managing chronic conditions and treatment effectiveness

Increasing office efficiency

Improving patient satisfaction

Solutions for Every Type of Lab

Where does lab fit in at every level of the health system? To help evaluate the need for lab and obtain at all site of care, below is a summary of the function of the lab at each type of facility as well as the common tests preformed and solutions needed. Scroll down or click on your lab area of interest in the listing below to learn more.

Hospital

Lab in a Hospital: high-volume, large test menu; in need of guidance on analyzers, test systems and menu

Solutions needed:

A distributor to work with supply chain on formularies, lot track and trace and lot sequestration

Quality delivery and distribution model to help cut costs at the hospital level with reduced overhead of self-warehousing and distribution

Assistance with EMR and LIS connectivity and middleware to the “off sites” within the health system

Consulting assistance for standardization and efficiency throughout the health system to address continuity between hospital and alternate sites

Assistance in compliance for CAP, JC, state and federal licensur

Ambulatory Surgery Center

Lab in a Surgery Center: performs pre-surgery blood work scheduled on site prior to procedure; common tests include BMP, electrolytes, glucose, PT/INR, ACT, UA, sometimes flu or strep

Solutions needed:

Faster time to result, immediate assessment in order to proceed to surgery/procedure; faster results will help reduce the potential to re-schedule the surgery and adds a control point in the facility rather than relying on a primary care office or reference lab to perform pre-surgery lab tests

Increased patient satisfaction through greater efficiency and reduced time in complete process

Imaging Center

Lab in an Imaging Center: pre-procedural blood work scheduled on site prior to procedure; common tests include BUN/creatinine

Solutions needed:

Faster time results, immediate assessment in order to proceed to imaging procedure

Increased patient satisfaction through greater efficiency and reduced time in complete process

Dialysis and Infusion

Lab in Dialysis and Infusion: pre-procedure or infusion blood work scheduled on site prior to procedure; common tests include CMP, CBC, therapeutic drug levels prior to procedure and/or infusion; CBC can be critically important

Solutions needed:

May need to schedule in advance for results to be accessible on day of procedure/infusion

Important to assess patient current status and course of treatment and/or adjustment of TD

Single point of care leads to increased patient satisfaction and higher quality outcomes

Urgent Care Center

Lab in an Urgent Care: needs to be seen as single point of care with on-site lab – one stop shop; common tests include CBC, chem panels, rapid diagnostics (especially respiratory such as flu and strep, UA-simple, quick TAT, site of patient care

Alternative to primary care office visit when appointment is not available; may eliminate ER visit

Studies suggest patients are willing to drive 25 miles to receive comprehensive service in an UC

Community Health Center

Lab in a Community Health Center: desirable designation as “Patient Centered Medical Home”; designation receives higher level of government funding at times; common tests include small list of waived tests, glucose, lipids, A1C, lead testing for infant care and STDs; some do waived chemistry (I-Stat or Piccolo)

Solutions needed:

Need for multiple services in-house due to population serviced

In-house lab provides more timely diagnosis, evaluation and immediate treatment; lab with on-site consultation helps to keep patients compliant. Patient portals should be evaluated; do patients have access to the portals

Multi-specialty Clinic

Lab in a Multi-specialty Clinic: all services in-house provides a higher quality of care and improved outcomes with managed chronic conditions; various needs for lab testing dependent on specialties within clinic

Solutions needed:

Evaluation of combined volumes to determine test menu and best fit equipment; EMR, LIS and middleware for connectivity

Our Laboratory Implementation Team helps with initial lab setup and implementation, ensuring you have enough space for lab equipment, verifying hazard protocols, validating and testing equipment and more. This team can help set up single pieces of lab equipment or help build an entire new lab.